EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana said he expected a resolution today to a dispute between Israel and the United Nations over a UN mission looking into the Israeli army's assault on the Palestinian refugee camp of Jenin.
Israeli envoys were due to meet UN officials in New York to seek assurances about the mission appointed last week to look into events at Jenin, scene of some of the fiercest fighting during Israel's offensive launched late last month in the West Bank.
"I've been in touch with (UN Secretary General) Kofi Annan and I think this will be solved by tonight. A solution will be found," Mr Solana told reporters in Stockholm.
The Palestinians say hundreds of civilians were massacred by Israeli forces in Jenin. Israel denies this, saying that "dozens" of Palestinian fighters died in a fierce battle, along with 23 Israeli soldiers.
On Tuesday, Israel abruptly withdrew its approval for the mission to look into the circumstances surrounding nine days of bloodshed at the West Bank camp, fearing it was headed for public-relations and legal problems, and is seeking to set conditions.
Mr Solana also cited "opportunities" for ending the Israeli army siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where Palestinian fighters have taken refuge.
"I don't want to be specific, but I saw there a little bit of hope," he said referring to a resolution of the crisis.
The international community, he added, had to make efforts to end the siege, and help alleviate the plight of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Mr Solana and the EU Middle East envoy, Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos, today met President Arafat at his compound in Ramallah, which is also blockaded by the Israeli army.
"I was shocked by what I saw," Mr Solana said. "I spent two hours with President Arafat in conditions which are not appropriate for somebody who has responsibilities of being the president of the Palestinian Authority. "Therefore, the sooner we can get the withdrawal from Ramallah, the sooner President Arafat can take responsibility for his own movements."
A resolution to President Arafat's plight, he added, was "very important".
AFP